It is funny how some are now trying to BLAME the designers and engineers. They were not and I use the word sadly, FLYING the aircraft. We as PILOTS bear the responsibility of flying our passengers or "packages" safely from A to B. This accident appears to stem from a basic "pilot" failure to control the A/C following the loss of airspeed indications resulting in a STALL. A 15 degree pilot induced pitch up at 35,000' close to the rec max altitude will give nothing else in what was now a "normal" A/C in ALT LAW, especially when the input is held and STALL warnings ignored!
Bubbers most of the previously stalled airliners, if not ALL, were from YOKE aircraft so give it a break on the sidesticks. The Yokes did not SAVE the others even though the other pilot "KNEW" what the other was doing.